My agricultural background comes from growing up on the family grain and dairy farm in Shelby County Illinois. I am a graduate of the University of Illinois. For twenty years I worked in the agricultural insurance industry as a field supervisor, later in management and as vice president and member of the board of Rain and Hail, the nation's largest crop insurer. In 1995, I joined Bates Commodities to serve clients in all areas of the futures market. In 1999 I purchased Bates Commodities, with branches in six locations. At Bates Commodities we specialize in individual service for our clients.

contact Pete @ 309-452-8371

Curt Kimmel Commodity Broker

Curt returned to Bates Commodities in 2001 after spending 13 years with Grain Field Futures, Zwicker Consulting and founding the Grain Field Report. Curt continues to be the author of the Grain Field Report, which offers marketing advice to grain and livestock producers across the Midwest. In 1982 Curt started in the brokerage business working for Paul Bates in the Heinold Commodities office in Normal, Illinois.

Curt was raised on a grain and livestock farm near Carlock, Illinois and received a B.S. in Agriculture Business and a B.S. in Agriculture Production from Illinois State University. Curt stays active in the community and the Agriculture industry by serving on numerous advisory boards.

Curt works one on one with producers, traders and agriculture companies to develop risk management strategies and trading plans. Curt can be heard regularly on various radio stations and seen at many marketing meetings across the Midwest.

contact Curt @ 309-452-8371

Don Hish Commodity Broker

Don joined Bates Commodities in May of 2006 as a Commodity broker after 42 years in the securities business as a stock broker/CFP, and 35 of those years as a commodity broker with Wachovia Securities and their predecessors.

His educational background includes a B.S. from Illinois State University and an M.S. from the University of Illinois.

Don grew up on a grain and dairy farm at Fairbury, IL and was active in his high school FFA receiving the state farmer designation for his various projects.

He specializes in technical analysis and marketing strategies, as well as helping individual producers monitor their financial position through the development of financial statements.

contact Don @ 309-452-8371

Craig Nafziger Commodity Broker

contact Craig @ 309-452-8371

Diana Ropp

Commodity BrokerDiana joined Bates Commodities in July of 2007 as a commodity broker. Prior to joining Bates, she was employed by Advance Trading for 11 years where she specialized in margins, opening new customer accounts and assisting brokers and customers with their trading needs as directed.

Diana was born and raised on a purebred Jersey and grain farm northwest of Normal and earned her bachelors degree in Public Relations from Illinois State University. She regularly assists her family in the milking process where Ropp Jersey Cheese is manufactured and sold.

Her community activities and interests include being a 4H leader, President of the NCHS Alumni Assn. and Heart of Illinois A.B.A.T.E. Board.

contact Diana @ 309-452-8371

Paul Bates Founder 1929-2011

Paul's history as a commodity broker started in March, 1971, with Illinois Grain Corporation. From 1975 to 1977, he was associated with Loewi and Company. In June of 1977, he opened Heinold Commodities in Normal, Illinois. Paul remained with Heinold until 1986, and during that time he managed branches in Peoria and Springfield, and also served as a regional manager for other branches in Illinois. In June of 1986, Paul opened Bates Commodities and became affiliated with Stotler and Company as an Introducing Broker. During that time, Bates Commodities bought additional Stotler branches and he served on the Stotler Advisory Council. Our current affiliation with ADM Investor Services, Inc., began in 1990. In 1999 Paul sold the business to Pete Manhart. Paul retired in Dec. of 2004.